Tag: Pinot Noir

For The Pups

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This will end up being one of my favorite posts and favorite wines to talk about.  As some of you may know, I am a huge animal lover.  I’ll support anything that benefits our four-legged friends.  If it helps, supports, and facilitates a dog, cat, or any other animal friends happiness, I am all for it.

It was inevitable that I was going to write about Chateau Law Paws and the timing could not be more perfect.  Over the course of last week, I celebrated my birthday with two wonderful dinners, with two wonderful sets of friends, and with two of their wonderful wines!

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I needed to grab a wine for the first celebration, earlier in the week, and I randomly found their Red Wine Blend at a very obscure shop.  And what a gem and joy it was to drink.  And at only $9.00, it was a colossal bargain! ChateauBlendOpened

The synopsis mentions various fruits on the nose and when tasting, with a hint of sage. I might have caught some of that, but more importantly, I found a wine that was easy and enjoyable to drink.  And to know I was championing a wonderful cause like the North Shore Animal League, makes it taste even a million times better.

It’s a placebo that makes me feel good and hopefully does the same for our pups and purring pals!

We enjoyed our glass with a succulent and decadent meat sauce pizza!

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For dinner number two, we had more of a barbecue style feast with burgers, sausage, corn, and other fun foods. I was told not to bring anything, but coming to a dinner party, even if you are the recipient of the dinner, is bad etiquette. And once again, I find a quite beer & and wine shop, and their Pinot Noir! ChateauPinotChateauPinotFeast

As we know, Pinot’s are one of the easiest and lightest wines to drink.  It can go well with just about anything or nothing at all. But I’m glad I brought it for this dinner with friends. Once again, a lot of aromas and flavors are mentioned.  This time, along with some fruits, coconut and creme caramel are included.  I wish I could have found those. Next time I won’t try as hard.

And even the winemaker, Marty Spate, says just to enjoy it.   I can’t argue with that.  It went down so easy and so effortlessly. What a treat this was! ChateauPinotOpened

What a wonderful week this was, supporting this great wine and amazing cause.   I could go on and on about this. And their community section is so charming.

This is what life is all about, enjoying a glass of wine and helping some of the greatest creatures ever to set foot on this Earth. I haven’t had a chance to complete the trifecta and have a glass of their Chardonnay.  But that gives me another reason (not that helping animals isn’t enough) to write about them again this Summer!

If you’re interested in knowing where to find their heartwarming bottles in your area, click here.

And the link to donate is here. Their story makes me feel good and I am happy to have written about it.

Take good care.

Best,

Ideen

Happy Hummus Day!

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RetsinaHummusNoGlass

Today we’re celebrating International Hummus Day!   It seems that only recently hummus has blown up in popularity all around the world.  It used to be we found it only in restaurants as an appetizer, in International markets, and maybe a few flavors here and there at select grocery stores.

Now it’s everywhere.  There are flavors that were once only imagined, and have now come to fruition.

Finding a wine to pair with our meal was a bit daunting.  But once again, thanks to the awesome staff at Wine World of Abingdon, MD for their assistance.

The flavors chosen for this review were a Roasted Garlic and an Edamame.  The latter I’ve only discovered recently.  And it’s so yummy.

RetsinaRetsinaBackLabel

So with the spicier offerings in mind and without further adieu, the wine selected was the Retsina from Greece.

It’s not a wine I’ve sipped too often.  I recall trying these at Greek Festivals in the Maryland and Washington, DC area.

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This is an acquired taste.  Honestly, I couldn’t finish my glass.  It’s not something I’m used to.  Maybe in time, it will be a glass I will learn to appreciate with Greek appetizers and the right vibe or environment. But, in this case, it wasn’t for me.

When I uncorked the bottle, the nose was really strange.  I’m not sure what I was smelling.  It wasn’t the most pleasing.

However, the golden color does have a charm to it.

In many instances, I like to try wines, without knowing ahead of time what fruits, flavors, or spices are included.  This was no exception.  What I tasted was very earth like.  But not in that earthy tones term that people like to throw out there  It tasted like nature.  It had a familiar taste of Spring.  It was like something I recall in my backyard when I was a kid.   Then I did my research and saw that taste was the pine-tree resin.

This was the wine of the gods.  And I think that’s awesome.  But it’s not awesome for me.  Not yet at least.  That doesn’t mean you or yours wouldn’t like it.   We all have different tastes and that’s what makes us all unique and all the same.  In doing some research, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Pinot Noir have been common suggestions. Hopefully you’ll be able to find a wine that goes well with this special day

RetsinaHummus,

In the meanwhile, I celebrated hummus yesterday and will continue today.    Here we have some whole wheat pita triangles and pita chips thrown in, to dip and delight.

Enjoy today.

Best,

Ideen

It’s A Celebration

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Today’s post is a special one.   A good friend of mine just recently found out he is now cancer free.  Congratulations and it’s now time to celebrate healing and feeling good!  So what better way than to start with some sparkling wine!

During a spur of the moment trip to Virginia over the holidays, I purchased the Bon Vivant Brut.   Now, why did I go all the way over here?  Because, aside from a few exceptions, you can purchase wine in any grocery store in the state for lovers.

I’ve always liked taking random trips to VA to buy wine on the cheap.  A drive to Dulles back in December of last year led me to the Wegmans, which always has a great selection at very affordable prices.

So based on recommendations for ways to celebrate the holidays, I grabbed a bottle here.   The price tag was a bit steep at $19.99.  But, hey it’s the holidays and we like to spend big and over indulge.  So why not?

However, with circumstances being what they were, maybe champagne wasn’t appropriate at the time.  And with all of us going out to holiday parties, throughout the month of December, a lot of us were indulging in egg nog, cocktails, and fuller bodied red wines.

But that’s the good thing about sparkling wine and champagne.  It can be saved for any time of celebration and to show love.  Well today was that day.

IGotNothing

So how does it taste?  It was easy to drink and  enjoy.   I detected some pear and apple flavors but, nowhere on the back label gives any kind of synopsis of the wine itself.   The added fun is that you can use your detective skills and intuition as to what you think might be contained inside.   Not much is listed in various searches, aside from the company site which says the California wine is made in a French Style with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.  Sound easy or complicated enough for you?   Ha.

Nevertheless, this is a drink to be savored and to symbolize what makes you happy and makes you feel great.  That is what life is all about.

Even though the price is a bit high, for a grocery store deal, at $20,  I would buy this again and recommend this to anyone for any special occasion. It’s all about celebrating joys and accomplishments in your life.  And the wines we drink can be a small part of that.  We’re approaching the warm weather months and that’s cause for celebration itself!

Light

Stay healthy.

Best,

Ideen

Flippin’ Great

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Malbec

One of my favorites, the Malbec from FlipFlop Wines, can be found priced anywhere from $5 to $8, depending on whereyou go.   The problem is, you may have a difficult time tracking it down.

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As seen above, all their other selections are available, but where’s the Malbec!  It’s the best of the bunch.  What was once a standard label bottle that could be found in even the most basic wine shop, is now nowhere to be found.   I asked some respective store managers, and the prevailing response is that it was discontinued in Maryland.   I find that disheartening on so many levels.

As of this writing, I was still waiting on a response on this matter from the company themselves.   It’s no longer listed on their website.

So what’s so great about it?  Well other than the fact that it’s so cheap, it tastes good.  I bought this gem a few years ago at various wine shops, simply for the price and eye catching label alone.  Who doesn’t love to be reminded of Summer and warm weather?

My first time opening it, I sensed some berries and other fruit flavors.  But what really hit me was the oak and smokiness that came through.   The latter two are something I have mentioned many times before.  Oak and Smoke usually make a red wine divine.  It’s a nice medium bodied wine that goes down perfectly, and can be eaten with many wonderful meals.

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As pictured, the back of label gives some suggestions, along with some other fun facts. Speaking of which, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more user friendly label.   Additional bonus, the bottles are twist off. If you read their story, you see that the intent is genuine and they want their wines to be approachable and drank for fun, and not in a snooty context.  My blog shares that the same sentiment.

I’ve also liked their Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot, but nothing can touch their Malbec.  I mean this.  I’ve had similar ones priced $10-$20 and up, that can barely hold a candle to this.  At an average price of $7, it’s worth at least three times that much. I’m that passionate about it.    And the fact that it’s becoming so scarce, is adding to my sentimentality.

Fortunately, I have a few left in my collection and I will continue to visit various wine shops, and under the radar beer and wine stores to see if there is a stray anywhere.

If you can find this bottle, get it.  Good wines at this cheap of a price are everywhere, but this one is on a level all it’s own.

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In the meantime, I will savor my glass with some delicious ground turkey tacos.

All The Best,

Ideen